Support for carers of terminally ill

Support is available on the Peninsula for carers of the terminally ill, according to a Umina resident who is a volunteer with a support service.

Ms Pat Wood said: "Not a lot of carers of the terminally ill know about Home Hospice and the work we carry out.

"Home Hospice is a community mentoring program that recruits and trains mentors, who provide advice and emotional support, as a knowledgeable friend, to home carers of terminally ill patients."

Ms Wood has been a volunteer mentor with Home Hospice for almost two years.

After retiring as a registered nurse, Ms Wood said she looked for a similar role in the community that would give her great satisfaction in helping others.

"The mentor program is very worthwhile and rewarding for me," Ms Wood said.

"I get a lot of pleasure out of helping and supporting people who need it.

"Our aim is to take away some of the pain and stress the carer of a terminally-ill patient may feel, especially in coming to terms with the death of the patient.

"To put it simply, we are the carer of the carer."

The Home Hospice community program has been operating for more than 28 years and has since supported hundred of carers across NSW and the Gold Coast.

As part of its expansion across the Central Coast, Home Hospice has recently recruited and trained seven Central Coast mentors, and is now urging carers to make use of the support program.

For more information about Home Hospice visit www.homehospice.com.au or call 1800 132 229.

Clare Graham, 15 Jul 2008 Interviewee: Pat Wood Press release, 1 Jul 2008 Nicole Stringer, Home Hospice